Published on 19/02/2010
The NHS could save more than 71,500 lives a year by improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
cancer, a new report suggests.
According to think tank Policy Exchange, cancer is forecast to cost the UK over £24 billion by 2020 as survival rates continue to lag behind other European countries.
The study revealed that the NHS in England spends 5.6 per cent of its healthcare budget on cancer, compared to 7.7 per cent in France and 9.6 per cent in Germany.
Commenting on the figures, Henry Featherstone of the Policy Exchange Health Unit said: "Cancer kills over one in four people in England and is seen by the public as being the top disease priority for the NHS.
"The current cost of cancer – to say nothing of the human tragedy involved – is currently at a staggering £18.33 billion, and will only rise further."
Cancer Research UK reports that there are more than 293,000 new cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) diagnosed each year in the UK.
© ActiveQuote Health Ltd. 2010
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